Fracture toughness evaluation of a high-strength cold-drawn Type 304 stainless steel wire

摘要

Type 304 stainless steel wires are used in many applications where high strength and durability are required. One of the most demanding applications is that for wire ropes and cables. In this study a test method based on Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) is used to determine fracture toughness of a 1.1 mm wire with an ultimate strength of 2070 Mpa. Fracture topography and crack shape evolution in these wires are presented. Average values of fracture toughness are reported for Type 304 steel wire and compared against that of a high-carbon cold-drawn steel wire.